Attachment for sewing machines



A ril 9, 1935. J. D. KARLE 1,997,419

ATTACHMENT 1 0R SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 1, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 John D ffi akle gwumtoz p 1935. J. D. KARLE 1,997,419

ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES v Filed Dec. 1, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedlApr. 9, 1935 ulsu'rso STATES; QP'ATTENT OFFICE; a 1 a 1997,4191 v 1 ATTACHMENT'FOR SEWING. MACHINES John D. Kai-1e, Roselle Farm 1N. J., assignor to The Singer iManufacturing Company, .Elizaboth, N. L, a corporation oi New Jersey Application December 1, .1931, SerialNo; 578,262

. 17' Claims; (01; 112 163) .This inventionrelates to attachments for sewing machines; and has for its primary object to .provide an improved zigzag-stitching. attach line .of scam formation. s a

Another objectoffthe invention is to provide an improved piercing element or needle adapted more particularly for use with my improved zigzag attachment. i

ment for. vibrating the. material. laterally of i the Anotherobject of the invention is to provide an improved "zigzag-stitching attachment whereby.

cord: may be stitches. i i

Another 'objectof the inventionis to provide theattachment with improvedmeans for holdattached to the material by zigzag ing the material at a given. point for circular.

work.

Another object of terially obstruct the view of the operator and which is light in construction, and can bemanu factured and assembled atlittle expense.

With the above and'other objects in view; as will hereinafter appeargtheinvention consists in the devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment-of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readilyund'erstood by those skilled in the art. i

7. I of 'theattachment. 1

. ment showing the needle in its highest position. I

'Figure3is a rear elevation of the attachment showing the position of "the needle-bar at the beginning of the workshifting movement.

Figure lisa left side elevation or edge view.

the inventionis to provide improved adjustingmeans whereby the extent of A Figure 5ois a-detail of part of the actuating means.. 1 j a Figure 6 is'a detail section takenalong the line 16.6 of. Figure 2.

. Figures/'1 and Kare disassembledperspective views of the attachment;

s Figure .9 isa bottomperspective view of the .presser-foot. H

Figure '10 is aleft'side elevation of the needle. Figure .11 is a top plan view showing the attachment usecl for circular cording.

IIn .theembodiment of. this invention selected for illustration, I isthe usual spring-pressed presser-bar and? is the usual reciprocating needle-bar journaled in the bearing?) carriedby theflhead 4 of a .well known fsinger family type sewing machine. Y

The attachment comprises a channeledblock i" adapted to be. secured by the usual fastening screw 6 to the angular lower portion of the presSer-bar j i; Secured to the block 5 by the screws] is a p1ate,'designated generally as 8, having an up-' standing inclined arm 8, and a cross-arm 9 I formed"with"elongated apertures Ill, and out- Wardly projecting lips :H' which form a guiding channel. The block 5 and-plate 8 constitute a supporting frame. 1"Slidab1y held inthe guiding channel by the rivets I2 is a bar 13 having a depending portion l4 towhich issecured bymeans of the screw 'IS -the presser-foot' l8, hereinafter described. Fulcrumed upon the upstanding'a'rm 8 of'lthe plateSbythe-stud-pinll is a swinging .member 'la having' its lower end i9 extending down betwen an eccentric stop 29, adjustably securedto theslide-bar 13 by the screw'-2l; and the end of the'knwrlecl headed adjustable stopscrew 22ffitted'to a threaded aperture in the lug 23 fixed upon the end of the slide-bar. 'The slid'e bar 13 may be adjusted "relative to the swinging member l8 by changing the positionsof theadjustableeccentric 20 and the adjustable screw-22. As the presserfoot is "carried by the slide-bar I13, it isobvious thatby changing the Y position of the slide-bar "the position ofthe presser-joot is changed as also its field off vibra'- tion. The swinging member I8 has an opening 24 with inwardly extending prbjectionsZE and 25" adapted to embrace and engage a cam-element 26 having a plurality of circumferentially spaced projectionszl. Fixed to the cam-element 26 is a ratchet-Wheel '28, thecam-element and ratchet- ..whee 1 are rotatablyamounted on the upstanding.

arm .8 of the plate, 8 by "means of the bearing-I stitutes the pivot of the pawl 35.

' to the pawl and the other end fixedto the arm 34. V The stop abuts the arm34, thus limiting the extent towhioh the pawl 35 will move counterclockwise. The component parts aresecured together by the rivet or pivot-stud 3'! which con- -The presser-foot it, previously referred to, is formed with a cord-guiding channel 38in its toe, and a flat L-shaped spring 39, one leg of which is fixed to the sole-plate by the screw it, the

other or transverse leg overlying a portion of the channel 35 and extending over theedge of the sole-plate. The two legs of the L-shapedspring 39 are connected, by an edge bend 39' and are vertically spaced apart. An adjusting screw 4| is provided for varying the tension exertedbythe transverse leg of the flat spring 39 on the cords This construction constitutes a, self-threading cord-guide and provides means for varying the tension on the cord. The work-engaging portion of the sole-plate is serratedand is provided with atransverse elongated needle-opening 42 having its rear edgercut away at 43 to allow the cord to pass under the heel of thepresser-foot Without raising the presser-foot. Theheel of the soleplate is recessed in the form of a semicircle as .shown at 44, inFigure 9, to-facilitate the turning of sharp corners in following the pattern toibe corded. v ,7 f

.A plate 45 towhich is secured by the screw 45' aniinpaling pin 47 is removably and adjustably secured to the depending portion Id of the slide bar 13 by the screw l5 and keyhole-slot 48. ,The function of the impaling'pin M will be described hereinafter; V V 1 The needles of the Singer family sewing machines are set so that the eye of the needle is on a line which is approximately at right angles-to the, line of seam-formation,to facilitate seizure of the needle-loop by the loop-taker. In using a zigzag attachment, .when the needle is above the work, the needle-thread extends from the needle-eye to the previous stitch and during the work-shifting movement of the zigzag attachment which carries the thread toward the needle, the regular pointed needle is aptto either split the thread or'to penetrate the work in rear of the thread causing irregularities in the stitch formation. These conditions are overcome by the improved needle 49 shown in Figure 10. The needle d9 differs from the regular needle in that the point 53 is offset from the vertical axis of the needle into' alignment with the front side, and

- the needle is abruptly tapered towards its point by shortening the portion of the needle from the eye 5i to the point to substantially half of the a distance of that of the regular needle.

, Operation Assuming the needle-bar and needle to be in the position indicated in Figure 1, the presser foot being in a position tobe shifted from right to left, the needle-bar moves upward in the usual manner until it reaches the position indicated in Figure 3. At this pointthe pawl 35 engages a tooth of the ratchet-wheel 28 and, as the needlebar continues its upward movement to the position indicated in Figure 2, the ratchet-wheel 2B is rotated one-eighth of a revolution. The camelement 26. being fixed to the ratchet-wheel 28 is also moved one-eighth of a revolution. The rotationof the cam-element 26' causes one of the circumferentially spaced projections 21 to contact the inwardly extending projection 25 and force the swinging member l3 to swing clockwise about its pivot l1; thisswinging movement causing the lower end IQ of the member l8 to abut the adjustable eccentric stop 29 and shift the slide-bar i3 and the presser-foot l5 to the left, laterally of the line of feed. The shifting of the presserfoot it occurs while theusual four-motion feed-dog 52 is below the throat-plate 53 and isrcompleted just prior to thepointin the cycle when'the feed-dog 52contacts the work. I After the feed dog 52 has fed the work forward the needle descends, forming the stitch, and on" .the upward stroke of the needle the pawl 35iagain engages the ratchet-wheel 28 androtates it and, the cam-element 26 one-eighth ,Ofarvblution. r

This causes one of the circumferentiallyspaced projections 21 to contactjthe inwardly extending projection 25' and cam the swinging lever 18 counterlockwise about its pivot. il; this swinging movement causing the lower end lsjof the swinging lever 8 to act'against the end-22 of the knurled headed screw 22 and shift the slide-bar l3 and presser-foot 16 to the right, the parts again assuming the positions, as indicated in Figure 1. From the foregoing it will be observed thatin the rotation of the cam-element, 26, its 1pc ripheral projections successively engage those of the swinging lever l8 tovibratejthe same and thus reciprocate the slide-bar and presser-foot'.

' 'To advance the ratchet-wheel 28 one step requires only one-fourth'of an inch-rhovementof the needle-bar with this construction. Theshort periodof time required is only a small fractionof the complete stitch-forming cycle, consequently the shifting movement is started after the needle is clear and is completed engages the work. V

Figure 11 illustrates thegmethod oi using-the impaling pin 47 and'the cording presser-foot IS with the zigzag attachment. The work is pierced at the center of curvature by the point before the feed-dog,

54 of the impaling or centering pin 47, and drawn over the point 54 until the work is held on the vertical'part 55 of the impaling pin, The cord 56 is slipped underthe flat spring 39 and drawn to the left until itenters the channel 38; the surplus cord being then pulled towards the operator so, that the zigzag-stitches-will be started at the end of the cord. When the machineis operated the needle descendsfirston one side of the cord 55 and then on the other; the, work being shifted laterally ofthe lineof feed after each stitch-forming operation. The feed-dog 52 operates in the usual manner to feed thework forward. It will be obvious, however, that by adjusting the eccentric stop 2!! and stop-screw- 22 the needle may be made to pierce both edges of the cord or the needle may be made to pierce the cord and the work alternately. In the illus- 'tration in Figure ll'the needle pierces the Work at the sides of the cord; the cord being secured to the work by the zigzag stitches 5l-. It will also be observed that the stop 20 'and screw .22 may beso positioned or backed oif vthat the, lower end is of the swinging lever l8will vibrate therebetween without affecting the ,position'of -the f-presser-foot, so that aplainvsewingmay be 1 ac- ,;complished without removing the. attachment (from-the, machine. 7 i

From the foregoing descriptionconsideredrin connection with the accompanying; drawings, the

construction, manner of operation and severaladvantages of :my improved attachment will be clearly and fully understood. It :is apparent that such adevicerhas a wide variety of uses, and it will :befunderstood that the form; construction :and arrangement of the several elements employed may be varied. Therefore; the privilege is reserved of resorting to all suchdegitimate changes therein as may befairlyembodied within the" spiritand scope of the appended claims. I

Having thus set forth the nature fof the 'invention, what'I claim here'inis:

LtA'zigzagestitching' attachment comprising a i'member'adaptedto be secured to the presser-bar, ta'second member having an upstandingarrn and Y mounted on said cross-arm, a swingable member fulcrumed to the upstanding arm of said plate with its lower end in operative engagement with said bar, said member having an opening with inwardly extendingprojections, a cam-element adapted to engage said projections, and means for actuating said cam. i i

3. In combination with a sewing machine hav ing a needle-bar and a Dresser-bar, a plate secured to said presser-ba'r, a slide-bar carrying a presser-foot mounted on said plate, a swingable member pivoted on saidplate and in operative engagement with said bar, a cam'for actuating said member, and means for actuating said cam comprising a pawl carried by the needle-bar and a ratchet-wheel connected tosaid cam.

i. In combination with a sewing machine, a presser-foot, means for vibrating said 'presserfoot laterally of the line of seamformation, and

an impaling pin adjustably secured to said press er-foot for circular sewing. e

5. In combination with a sewing machine having a reciprocating needle and. a presser-bar, a' plate secured to said presser-bar, a'slide-bar carrying a presser-foot slidably mounted on said plate, a swingable member pivoted to said plate,

an adjustable operative connection between said bar and said swinging member, and means for vibrating said member transverse to theline of scam formation. a

r 6. In combination with a. sewing machine having a reciprocating needle-bar, a presser-foot, means for vibrating said presser-foot laterally ofthe line of seam formation, and aneedle carried by said needle-bar, said needle having "its point offset from the vertical axis of theneedle and into alignment with the front side of the needle. 1 1

'7. In combination with a sewing machine, a a

. 12. A zigzag-stitching attachment :itspoint offsetjfrom the vertical axis of the needle into alignmentwithrthe front side of the needle, Psaidneedle. having its pointiabruptly tapered. i

In a sewing machine, the. combination'with Y the needle, needle-bar'and four-motion feed-dog :7 i of a presser-ioot adapted-to vibrateklaterally f thei line of seam-formation, and means for vibywthe' needle-bar, and 1a ratchet-wheel position'ed to be actuated "by said pawl ias the needle! bar 'is'nearing the end'of its up-stroke;

*QnIncdmbination with a sewingtmachi'ne-ga elongated needle-aperture and a cordeguiding channelpa resilient *memberoverlying said chan nel, tand means: for vibrating said presser-ioot later'allyrof the line of seam formation. i

' 10. In combination .withasewing machine having "a reciprocating needle, straightaway workfeeding mechanism, a presser-bar;-a presserefoot,

and means iorgvibrating said "presser-footfwith a predetermined amplitude relative to said press er-"barpand laterally of the. line. or seam fo'rmabrating saidpresser-footincluding apawl carried presser footrhaving a soleeplateformed iwith-an i tion including adjustable mea'ns for changing the field of said predetermined amplitude of lateral vibration of the presser-foot.

11. In combination with a sewing machine having a reciprocating needle, a presser-foot, and means for vibrating said presser-foot laterally of the line of seam formation including devices adjustable independently of each other for determining the limits of the lateral vibratory motion of the presser-ioot.

machines comprising a member, adapted to be secured to the presser-bar, a plate carried by said member, a pivot-stud carried by said plate, a

for sewing,

ratchet-wheel mounted on said stud, a cam fixed V to-said ratchet-wheel, a swingable lever having an opening which receives said cam for actuation thereby, a pawl adapted to be actuated by the needle-bar of the sewing machine, on its upward stroke for imparting a step-by-step rotary movement to said ratchet-wheel and cam, and a,

presser-foot actuated by said swingable lever.

13. A zigzag-stitching attachment for sewing machines comprising a member adapted to be secured to the presser-bar, a plate carried by said member, a pivot-stud carried by said plate, a ratchet-wheel mounted on said stud, a cam fixed to said ratchet-wheel, a swingable lever having an opening which receives said cam for actuation thereby, a pawl adapted to be actuated'by the needle-bar of the sewing machine on its upward,

stroke for imparting a step-by-step rotary movemachines comprising a frame adapted to be secured to the presser-bar, a pivot-pin carried by said frame, a ratchet-wheelmounted to rotate on said pivot-pin, a cam carried by said ratchet- Wheel and having a plurality of circumferentially a pivot carried by said frame and having an opening which receives said cam, a presser-foot actuated by said vibratory lever, and means for actuating said ratchet-wheel, said means com-' prising a pawl adapted to be actuated by the needle-bar of the sewing machine on its upward stroke. 7 i 15. A zigzag-stitching attachment for sewin spaced projections, a vibratory, lever mounted on zigzag-stitching attachment and a needle having machines comprising a block adapted to .be secured tothe presser-bar of a sewing machine, a

plated mounted on saidblock, a pivot-pin carried by said plate, a ratchet-wheel rotatably mounted on said pivot-pin, a cam carried by said ratchetwheel andhaving a plurality of circumferentially (spaced projections, a vibratory lever mounted on 'a pivot-pin carried by said plate, said lever having a centrally located opening which receives said cam, a presser-foo-t vibrated bysaid lever, means forvarying the vibratory movement of said presser-foot, and apawl adapted tobe actuated by the needle-bar of the sewing machine onits upward stroke for imparting a step-by-step movement tosaid ratchet-wheel. y

16. A zigzag-stitching attachment for sewing machines comprising a block adapted to be secured to the. presser-bar of a sewing machine, a plate mounted on said block, a pivot-pin carried by said plate, a. ratchet wheel rotatably' mounted on said pivot-pin, apawl adapted to be'actuated by the'needle-barfor imparting a step-by-step rotary movement to said ratchet-wheel, a cam carried by said ratchet-wheel and having a plu- :rality of circumferentially spaced projections, a v

vibratory lever mountedona pivot-pinczirr'ied by said frame, said lever having a centrally located openingwhich receives said cam, a presser-foot vibrated by said lever, means for varying the-vibratory movement of said presser-foot, and means for adjusting said presser-foot relative to said needle. 7

, 17. A zig-zag-stitchingattachment for sewing machines having in combination, a member adapted to be secured to the presser-bar, a pres- :ser ioot providedwith an elongated needle-opening and a serrated work-engaging'portion, and mechanism for vibrating said presser-foot rela- 'tive to saidmember, saidmechanism including'a for rendering said mechanism ineffective to vibrate the-presser-foot. V r y g 7- JOHN D. KARLE. 

